Diaphragm seal



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c. sAuzEDDE DIAPHRAGM SEAL Filed Jan. 27. 1936 sept. 2s, 1937.

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` mvsn I (Val/de auzerdde ATTO R N EYS Like characters of Patented Sept. 1937 UNITI-:D lSTATES PATENT? nmnnaoiusnar. 1

claude ssundae, nen-on, Mich., assigner tone'- troit Hydrostatic. Brake Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan f' Application January 21, 1936, serial Nofsosss The present invention relates to means for sealing chambers in which reciprocating elements are mounted to be moved in response to iluid pressure in the chambers. It has to do more particularlyv with hydrostatic brake systems wherein pistons, movably received in chambers and connected to brake shoes, are moved with respect to their chambers by fluid under pressure. Sealing means for this purpose is shown in my prior Patent N0. 1,964,745, issued July 3, 1.934, t'O

which attention is invited.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a sealing means, between a piston head and the wall of a. cylinder in which it reciprocates,

` which is positively nonleakable and which is designed to embody high wear resisting properties.-

The sealing means is in the form of a diaphragm, formed of such elastic material as rubber, and the material of the diaphragm is surface bonded to an annular metal reinforcing body, For ex; ample, if rubber is employed it is vulcanized to the metal body and in order .to increase the tenacity of the surface bond, the annular body is provided with serrations. In assembling the seal in the cylinder, it is retained therein by a rctainer which firmly presses the metal reinforce into engagement with an annular seal or shoulparent `from thel following description in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein, Figure 1 is a section of the present seal Fig. 2 is a section of a modified seal, and Fig. 3 is a section illustrating a double seal arrangement.

throughout to designate corresponding parts,

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral I designates `a 'metallic cylindrical body closed at one end by a transverse wall 2 and being .internally threaded 5 Iat 3 vadjacent to its other end which is open. s One or more ports 4 are provided in the wall 2 for the purpose of conveying fluid thereto under pressure. The means 'for supplying uid to the interior of the cylindrical body I through the ports 4 has not. been shown here because it forms novcal body i, is an annular seal'.

reference are employed.

part of the invention and might be ol any of the well known types of apparatus already available inthe brakeiield.

vContacting with the wail 2, within the cylindrii- The seal 5- is 5 preferably formed of metal .which is comparatively soft Aluminum has been found to be most satisfactory for this purpose.- Held in irm contact with the seal 5, by a retainer element 6 screwthreaded into the end 3 of the cylindrical body I', 10 is an annular metallic body 'l having its inner face formed witha series of serrations 8. A cup shaped diaphragm e has an integral annular wall 9a extendingr around the periphery thereof. The

,cup is formed of rubber andthe annular wall 9a 15 is vulcanized to the inner surface of the annular body 1.

The retainer element 6 is also of annular form and aipiston extends/ therethrough so that its end or head I I engages the face of the diaphragm 20 9 and its side wall I2 engages the inner surface of the annular projection 9a on the diaphragm.

' It becomes apparent from the foregoing description that the retainer element 6 may be tightened against the annular body'l so as to '25 hold the latter in firm engagement with the aluminum seal 5, without compressing the mate# rial of the diaphragm. The annular body 1, being rigid. permits sumcient pressure to` be 'brought to bear on these parts' to afford a posi- 80 tive sealing action, and because the rubber itself is not subjected to this sealing' pressure it is not liable to wear or shear oif at the point where it is secured to the cylinder wall.

In operation, Huid under pressure is supplied to the cylindrical body I through the ports 4 lby any suitable source (notsl'iown) and the uid causes the diaphragm to ilex and deform so as to press the piston I0 outwardly of the body I. In

order that the utility of such action may be un derstood, it is pointed out that the piston l0 will ordinarily be connected to a brake shoe and such movement carries the shoe into engagement with a brake drum. -In view of the fact thatsuch constructions are already known in the art the same 45 has notbeen illustrated here. '.When the pres- .sure is relieved from the fluid thev piston will resume its normalposition (illustrated in' the drawing)` as a result of. the pressure exerted by the usually employed brake shoe retracting springs (not shown). I

Referring to Fig. 2 the numeral 20 designate'sa cylindrical body, closed at one end by a transverse wall 2 I, and having its other, open end internally .screwthreaded as indicated atll.v The wall 2| -pressure into the cylinder 20.

lof aluminum,

is provided with one or more ports 23 extendingl therethrough and adapted to convey fluid under Engaging the end wall 2 I, within the cylinder 20, is an annular seal 24 formed of soft'metal', preferably aluminum. In engagement with the annular seal 24 is an annular body 25, formed of angular cross section, and having one of its inner faces provided with a series of serrations 26. An elastic disk 21, preferably formed of soft rubber so as to be readily yieldable, is vulcanized to the serrated surface 26 of the annular body 25 and also to the inner annular surface 28, the face of the elastic disk 21 being in plane with the corresponding face of the annular body 25. The serrations 26 in the annular body increase the tenacity of the surface bonding action provided by vulcanization.

A cylindrical body 29 has an outwardly directed flange 30 on its inner end which is externally threaded and received in the screwthreads 22. The inner surface of the cylindrical body 29, which is of a diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the annular body 25, is machined smooth and slidably supports a piston 3| so that its head end 32 is adapted for engagement with the diaphragm. However, the

head end 32 of the piston is not permitted to en-` gage the soft rubber disk 21 for the reason that when subjected to high fluid pressure in the presence ofopposition to movement of the piston 3l the rubber has a tendency to project intothe space between the piston and the inner surface of the cylindrical body 29. Even though the clearance between these bodies comprises only a' working clearance this action i-s present and ordinarily causes wear of the diaphragm disk at this point. andalso to resist shearing of the comparatively soft rubber from its metal reinforce 25 the invention provides a comparatively thin disk 33 of relatively hard rubber between the disk 21 and the piston head 32. The hard rubber disk 33 is preferably vulcanized to the disk 21 and also to the inner annularsurface 34 of the metal reinforce 25.

In the structure disclosed in Fig. 3 the diaphragm is constructed identical to that shown in Fig. 1, that is, each diaphragm shown in Fig. 3 comprises an elastic disk 9 with an annular metal reinforce 1 extending around the periphery thereof. Two of such diaphragms are mounted in a cylinder 40 in opposed relationship, one of the reinforces 1 being seated against an internal shoulder 4I and the other being held in the cylinder 40 by a retainer element 42 which is received in the screwthreaded end 42 of the cylinder 4U. Between the two metal reinforces 1 is a spacer ring 44 having a seal 45, preferably interposed between the faces thereof and the adjacent metal reinforces 1. The retainer clement 42 is tightened into place so as to hold the above described parts in firm engagement one with another.

The spacer ring 44 has a circumferentially extending groove 46 and a plurality of radiallydisposed ports 41 extend from the inner surface of the ring and open into-thegroove. In addition, the groove 46 registers with a port 48 extending through the side of the cylinder and through which fluid under pressure is adapted to be conveyed to the space between the diaphragms 9,

Each of the forms of the invention thus disclosed presents a number of characteristic features,` but all of them include certain of these features in common.

To overcome this wear condition,v

elastic portion.

For instance, in each of the forms the assemblage not only provides for non-leakage conditions with respect to huid pressure but also to ingress of air. And to provide this result certain conditions must be met, due to the fact that the elastic diaphragm with its rigid margin is not secured in position as by the use of threads, but is slipped into position. While the follower element-1, 30, or 42-is threaded in place, the opposite face or end of the rigid member of the diaphragm is located at a point accessible to fluid pressure. It is obvious that, if the 'bonded connection between the elastic body portion of the diaphragm and the annular member to which itis anchored by the bonding action is to be maintained, the annular member must not be deformable, the reason for the use cfa rigid structure at this point. While it lmight be possible to form the end face of the member with a perfectly-ma- 4 chined face and to similarly provide the seating face of the cylinder which opposes it, the metal Of the two opposing faces is necessarily non-deformable so that unless a perfect t between the tw'o faces is had, there is possibility of leakage. And

where, as in the present disclosure, the portage for the fluid is located in the vicinity of such faces rather than at a point remote from the faces, possibility of leakage between the faces remains.

In the forms disclosed this condition is met by the use of the softer metallic seal-5, 24 or 45 which is sufficiently deformable a's to ensure a non-leakage condition with respect to these faces. The seal is metallic so that-movement of the annular member of the diaphragm is not excessive in setting up the deformation needed, the metal being preferably aluminum as above indicated. In this way it is possible to ensure the non-leakage condition at this point, and at the same time pelmit the elastic portion of the diaphragm to be accurately positioned; as indicated in Fig. l, for instance, the elastic portion rests upon the cylinder wall 2 without being placed under any tension effect on the diaphragm at the periphery of the plane portion; if the material of the seal 5 were textile or rubber, or of a completely deformable material, the pressure-applying movement of member 1 could readily affect the distance condi- `tions and apply a permanent strained effect at with the result that the latter is not weakened at l this point which forms the most vulnerable point of the diaphragm in service due to the fact that it represents the change from the pseudo-rigid portion represented by the anchoring zone of the body portion and the completely In addition, the assemblage permits the complete elasticity action required to meet the diicult conditions of braking service for which the diaphragm is especially designed. The piston must be instantly responsive to the changes set up in the portage through the brake pedal application and release, and the diaphragm must be capable of producing this result although itself in a stationary and anchored position.- If,

' then, the pressure of fluid in applying the brakes and the pressurerequired to discharge the fluidv from the cylinder ,is made applicable in the immediate vicinity of the anchoring zone of the elasticbody portion, as is indicated in the forms shown, the ability to withstand the effects of these required movements of the body portion at acclaim;7

this point without at the same time tending to break down the bonding connection, is of vgreat' importance.

These conditionsare met herein by the use of a body portion which, in Fig. 1 is planar excepting' for theanchoring zone, and completely planar in' the-form of Fig. 2, and varying fromA this in Fig. 3 because of the presence of the dual pis- \ton arrangement which necessitates the introduction of the iluid between opposing diaphragrns and thus requires the presence of the space produced by the bevelled'zcnes of the pis* tons. In other words, each of the forms has the anchoring zone of the elastic body-portion a direct continuation of the body-portion which co-A operates with the end zone ofthepiston, and with the free end ofthe elastic portion positioned mostl remote from the planar face of the piston.

In these ways,fthe assemblage is made nonleakable, is instantly-responsive to the changed conditions of pressure in the supply line, even when the-supply portagelies inl the vicinity of the anchored zone of the body-portion, andthe structure is simple and readily fashioned, andl adapted for long service conditions.

' Although specific Iembodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit of l. the invention,`and such .changes are contemplated.

1. In piston and cylinder assemblages, wherein the piston may be rendered active in one direction by iiuid pressure or such piston may be rendered active to move uid in one direction under pressure, and wherein the cylinder assembly includes two portions @lovable relative to, each other and also includes the uid portage, the 40 combination therewith, of sealing means operat'we to seal the piston chamber` to prevent( escape of iiuid,` said means including an'elastic bodyv portion and a .rigid inelastic and non-deformable annular annular metallic sealing portion capable of small deformation, said rigid and sealing portions providing a pressure-developed non-leakage packing zone between the two cylinder portions by the relative zone annular with respect 'to'the elastic bodyportion, said elastic body portion being positloned b t en the fluid portage of the cylinder. and the p ston, the anchoring zone -of the elastic body portion being positioned to be free of the packingproducing pressure and movable with the piston by fiuid or piston pressure' dependent upon the pressure origin and with such movement free of strain upon the anchoring zone tending to destroy the anchored relation, said elastic body portionr conforming to the generally planar end zone of the piston'and having the anchored zone as a direct continuation thereof,- the free'edge cf the anchored zone being most 65 remote from such planar face of the piston.

2. An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized inI that 'the elastic body portion and-its anchored portion anchored thereto, and an` the plstons is provided by fluid from the channel.l 45

movement of such cylinder por.- 'tions toward each 'other and with such packing` 3 zone is substantially cup-shaped, with the anchored zone forming the sides of the cup.'

3. An assemblage as im claim l. 'characterized in that the opposite ends of the anchoring zone of the rigid non-deformable annular portion are 55 of substantially similar of the portion.

'4. An assemblage as in in that the'fluid portage of the cylinder is lowidth on a cross-section Y cated to present the fluid in the vicinity/of the 1'0 anchoring zone `of the sealing means.

45. An assemblage as in'claim 1 characterized in that lthe elastic body portion and its anchoring zone are of generally cup-shape cross-section with the anchoring zone a direct continuationfcf 15 the body-portion to thereby present the anchorf i ing zone and the rigid inelasticand noni-deformable annular portion to which the anchor-l ing zone o f the elastic body-portion is securedv as t-he side walls of suchcup-formation, the 2Q thickness of the elastic portions of the sides andbottom of the 'cup being substantially equal.-

6. Any assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that theelastic body portionand its anchoring zone together with the annular rigid non- 25 deformable portion anchoredthereto extend/- in. a generally planar direction, with the body portion carrying. an inelastic-planarI member facing f the planar face of the piston.

'7, 'An assemblage as in claim g1 characterized 30 in that the .annular member of small deformation is of aluminum characteristic.

f 8. An assemblage asin claim 1 characterized.A

in' that asecondfpiston opposes the' ilrstpiston',f

anda. second sealing means for the second piston opposes the sealing means of the rst piston, 'the respective rigid members oi"\ the two sealing meansbeing separated'by aL spacer memberca'rrying portage co-opefratingvwith the portage of the cylinder, thefseveral'pistdns being bevelled- 40 peripherally to provide an annular channel be tween'thetwo sealing means with the channel in communication with the portage, whereby rel- 'Y ativel piston movements 11i-directions toseparate f- -10. In combination, a cylindrical body having 55 .an internal abutment at-one end, apairof annular metalreinforces, agspa'cer ring ,between said reinforces, means for clamping s'aidreinforces and spacer ring into -sealing relation one f with another and with said internal abutment, 60 and a pair ci elastic diaphragm surfaces each bonded at its periphery to a 'respective one'of-v said metal-reinforces, said spacer rlnghaving an external vcircumferential groove Aand ports extending therefrom/to the' inner surface thereof.` 65

cLAUDE SAUZEDDE. I'

claim 1 characterized 

